Trenching apparatus



T. F. MOORE.

TRENCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICA TION FILED MAILS. 1917.

1,305,396'. PatentedJune 3, 1919. 2 SHEETS-sain I.

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T. F. MOORE.

TRENCHING APPARATUS.

APPLlATloN FILED MAFLB, :911.

1,305,396, Patented J une 3, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r Ton/vzw UNiTED STATES. 'PATENT OEEIOE.

THOMAS E. MooEE, or WEST'EIELD, NEW JERSEY.

Speciication of Letters Patent. Patented J t111e 3i, 1919.

Continuation in part of application Serial No. 69,217, led December 29, 1915.y This application led March 8, 1917. Serial No. 153,422.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known thatI, THOMAS F. MOORE, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident 0f `Westfield, in the county of Union, in the State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tr'enching Apparatus,of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description;

This invent-ion relates to certain improvements in traveling cranes as used more particul-arly in connection with the trenching apparatus forming the subject matter of my pending application, Ser. No. 69,217, filed Dec. 29, 1915, of which thek present application is,-in part, a continuation.

The main object is to provide a more convenient and expeditious means for handling the various materials used in the construction of trenches at any point along the trestle without materially interfering with traffic or the free operation of the excavating, hauling and re-lling apparatus.

One of the specific objects is to facilitate the placing and removal of the sheathing and braoing'materials commonly used to retain the walls of the trench against caving in. 'v

Other objects and uses .will be. brought out in the following description.

In the drawingsi, Figure 1-is a cross sectional view of a portion of a trench and superposed trestle showing my improved traveling crane or hoist in operative relation thereto for driv ying the sheathing into `the ground.

F ig. 2 is a side elevation of the same crane and portions of vits lower and upper supporting rails. Y v -0 Fig. 3 is a top plan of the Vupper portion of the crane showing more particularly its connection with the overhead track.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectionalview of the inner end of the upper crane carriage and adjacent portion of its supporting rail.

In carrying out my invention, an overhead I--beam -5- forming the central lengthwise ridge-rail o-f a suitable trestle -3- and is supported directly over the center yline of a proposed trench, as -A-,

and carries upon its upper face a horizontally extending channel' iron or 'track -40- having upstanding lengthwise flanges -'40- along its .opposite edges for supportl ing and guiding the upper laterally extending arm v-45- of a traveling crane -42-, presently described, the trestle being movable along the trench upon suitable rails `This crane comprises an upright frame or standard 44- and the substantially horizontal arm 455, the standard -44- being provided with a relativelylong horizontal base -44- having rollers -43- on its opposite ends resting upon a guide-rail -l"- which runs along one side of and parallel with the trench and rails lto enable the crane to be easily and 4quickly shifted to any point where its use may be required.

The arm -45- is pivoted at one end at -46 to the upper end of the standard *44* to Vswing vertically, and extends laterally therefrom over and above thel overhead track4l0- where it is widened lengthwise ofthe trench and provided with separate pairs of rollers '-48- and -49-3 for engaging either of the iianges 40- of. the track --40` and guiding the upper portion of the crane in its. lengthwise vmovement along the trench.

The object in pivoting the arm -45- to the standardis to allow it to automatically adjust itself to variations in the horizontal parallelism of the lower and upper tracks -1- and *40-.and also to permit it to bev readily detached fromoperative engagement with the overhead track .-40- and folded upon'the Yupright- 44. in compact space when not in use, as in storage or transportation. i Y

The separate pairs of'rollers -48- and 4Q-.- are spaced someY distance apart yat opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the arm -'45- so as to retain the crane more nearly at right angles to the tracks k1- and 44C-, and at the same time to reduce toa minimum the liability of cramping or binding when shifted along said tracks.

The rollers .48- are journaled on horizontal bearings -48- on a suitable bracket 4-45:- of the arm -45-. to ride upon the upper face of the track -40- and against the inner face of one ofthe flanges Y 40'- to support said arm against downward movement, and also to hold the upper end of the crane against outward lateral movement relatively to said track so that the free or inner end of the arm is supported by its own Weight upon the track -lO- and may be readily disengaged therefrom by upward displacement when it is desired to remove the crane from the trestle. v

The rollers -49- are journaled on vertical bearings 4.9- on the bracket 427- and engage the outer faces of the same flange #10 to support and guide the upper portion of the crane against undue inward movement, and at the same time permitting the arm to be readily .disengaged from the track -0- by upward movement When necessary, the rollers of each pair being preferably arranged nearly vopposite each other to better support the upper portion of the crane against undue lateral movement upon the track -40 The crane 42.- is equipped with a suitable hoisting device consisting in this instance of a drum 6S- and a d 1iving shaft 6827 both journaled upon the upright standard Within easy reaching distance of the operator and connected hy suitable gearing for simultaneous action, the shaft -6S- being provided with hand' Wheels -IV- by which it may be rotated, While the gearing is adapted to be engaged by a pan'l 2J- Jfor locking lthe drum and holding the load when necessary.

A cable G9- has one end attached to the drum -GSH and its other end passed over an idler on the arm A5- and provided with means, as a hook 69-, for attachment to any object which it may be desired to raise or lower or convey from vone part of the trench to another.

As illustrated` the hook is attached to a Weighted driver 71- for driving the sheathing -ainto the ground, but it may be disconnected from the driver and the cable fastened to the sheathing to Withdraw the latter and convey it to other localities along the trench for reinsertion or deposit.

I have thus far described a singletraveling crane as used on one side ot' the trestle, but the channel iron 4:0* having two flanges 40'- permits the simultaneous and independent use of duplicate cranes, one at each side ot'the trestle, as shown in Fig. l, Without interfering one with the other or With the fastening means, as the cap screws *72%, by which the channel bar is secured to the top face of the I-beam -5-, that is, either crane may bemoved along its corresponding guide ilange 402- independently orp the other and used. for similar or different purposes lat any part of the trestle throughout its length, which greatly increases the range of use and eliiciency ot apparatus of this character.

IVhen duplicate cranes are used, they are interchangeable from one side to the other, or if, for any reason, a single crane is employed it may be used at either sid'e ot' the trestle With the same legree of efficiency by simply removing it from the track or guiderails at one side and replacing it upon the track and guide-rail upon the opposite side, this operation being greatly facilitated by the hin'ging of the main arm -45- to the main upright support -flJrwhich allows the arm -45- to be lifted to d'isengage the rollers -lS- and i9- from `one oi the guide flanges -LlO- whereupon the arm with the rollers thereon is folded downward-ly against the main upright thus permitting the entire crane to be more readily shifted from lone side of ,the trestle and replaced in operative position at-the og` posite side.

The operation of the device is clearly apparent from the foregoing ,description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and While I have shoivn it as particularly useful in connection With buildings and removing the sheathing, it is evident that the hoisting device may be used tor many other purposes7 as previously eX- plained.

Ihat I claim is:

l. In a trenching apparatus, the combination of a trestle extending along thetrenching line and a. traveling crane movable along the outside of the trestle and having its upper portion overhanging the same in traveling engagement therewith and carrying a part of the hoisting mechanism of the crane.

2. In a trenching apparatus, the combina tion .of `a trestle extending along the trench ing line and provided With an overhead track and a traveling crane movable along the outside of the trestle and having a laterally projecting arm overhanging the tres'- tle in traveling engagement with said track and carrying a part of the hoisting means of the crane.

3. In a trenching apparatus, the combina tion of a trestle extending along the trenching line and a traveling crane movable along the outside of the trestle and having a laterally projecting arm overhanging the trestle in traveling engagement therewith hingedto swing vertically out of said traveling engagement, said crane having a portion of its hoisting meansmounted on said arm.

4L. In a. trenching apparatus, the combination With a trestle extending along the trenclrline, in combination with a track extending along the top of the trestle and provided With an upstanding lengthwise flange and a crane movable lengthwise of the trestle and provided with a laterally projecting arm having rollers thereon engaging opposite faces of the flange, said crane having portions of its hoisting mechanism mounted on said arm. f

5. In a trenching apparatus, thecombination of a trestle extending along the trenching line and a traveling crane movable along the outside of the trestle and having a portion thereof supported independently of the trestle and another portion overhanging said trestle and in traveling engagement therewith, said crane having a part of its hoisting mechanism mounted on said overhanging portion.

6. In a trenching apparatus, the combina tion of a trestle extending along the trenching line, a track running centrally lengthwise of and upon the trestle, and a traveling crane movable along the outside of the trestle and extending from the base to the top thereof and having its upper portion overhanging said top and riding upon the track, said crane having a part of its hoisting mechanism mounted on said overhanging portion.

7. In a trenching apparatus, the combinationof a trestle movable along the trenching line and provided with an overhead track having an upstanding lengthwise flange, a traveling crane movable along the outside of the trench and having a laterally projecting arm provided with separate pairs `of rollers at opposite sldes of the longitudinal center of the arm, the rollers of each pair engagmg opposite faces of the ange,

said crane having la part of its hoisting mechanism mounted upon said arm.

8. In a trenching apparatus, the combination of a trestle movable along the trenching line V'and provided with an overhead track having an upstanding lengthwise flange, a traveling crane movable along the' outside of the trench and having a laterally projecting arm pivoted at one end to swing vertically and having its opposite end provided wlth separate pairs of rollers, those of each pair engaging opposite faces of the flange, said crane having a portion of its hoisting mechanism mounted upon said arm.

9. The combination with a trenching trestle, an overhead track mounted on the trestle and provided with parallel lengthwise guide ianges in spaced relation, of separate traveling hoists movable along opposite sides of the trestle and having their upper portions guided on said flanges.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March 1917.

THOMAS F. MOORE.

Vitnesses:

H. E,.- CHASE, M. VIOLA HowLAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the` Commissioner of Patents, Washington,l D. C. 

